Toyota Prius C years to avoid
The Toyota Prius C years to avoid are 2012, 2013, 2014 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2019 is the cleanest year on record.
281
Total complaints
4
Recall campaigns
2012–2019
Years covered
3
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Prius C years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | High complaint rate | 88 | |
| 2013 | High complaint rate | 88 | |
| 2014 | High complaint rate | 53 |
Every Prius C year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2014avoid | 53 | 0 | |
| 2013avoid | 88 | 0 | |
| 2012avoid | 88 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Toyota Prius C years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Prius C years to avoid are 2012, 2013, 2014. The cleanest year on record is 2019.
What is the best year for the Toyota Prius C?
By complaint volume, 2019 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Prius C years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Toyota Prius C have?
Across all model years, the Prius C has 4 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 281 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.